Using Biometric Authentication For A Secure Environment
Technology has advanced very fast in the past few years, and what was once science fiction is slowly turning into reality. Security is one major concern plaguing various businesses, and biometric authentication is now emerging as a magic broom to beat back people that want to steal products and information by impersonating others.
Biometric authentication means verifying the genuineness of a person not by a password or PIN number but by actual physical attributes such as a fingerprint, eyes or face, which is unique to each individual on earth. This ensures a foolproof method of recognition that can help businesses secure their premises against data and inventory theft. Since passwords, ID badges and PIN numbers can be hacked or stolen to be misused later, businesses need a better method that can help secure their valuable products and data. Such authentication can be done with the help of a biometric device such as a biometric fingerprint scanner that can scan fingerprints or a biometric iris scanner that can scan the eyes of a person. The relevant biometric software can then connect the hardware with the computer while comparing the fingerprint, iris, retina or face with a database consisting of all employees of that business.
If a match is located then the software will allow the person to enter the premises or a particular portion of the premises, but if no match is found then that person will be rejected. Thus biometric authentication will ensure that a person will not be able to enter into a company by using forged or stolen ID badges or hack into a computer that can be accessed only after such authentication. Many companies have combined different authentication methods such as biometric authentication along with passwords, PIN numbers or smart cards. This is known as 2 factor authentication if two methods are used in conjunction and multifactor authentication if more than two methods are used for a totally sterile environment.
Initially such methods were difficult to implement due to the large size of hardware and limitations in programming. However, rapid computerization in the past decade has led to smaller and lighter scanners entering the market while prices of biometric software too have dropped significantly. The entire hardware and software package is now affordable to even small businesses that can use this system to secure their workplace, prevent thefts and keep track of wayward employees. Payroll packages can also be linked to scanners so as to calculate the salary of each employee based on authentication records. Errant employees will no longer be able to fool the system by swiping a colleague's card while the fact that they are being monitored will convince them to work honestly. The rates of fingerprint scanners have fallen down dramatically, and one can easily find fingerprint readers made by Microsoft or Sony from $40 onwards. Similarly, scanners marketed by Fulcrum Biometrics range from around $70 to $4000 depending on the resolution and the number of fingers that can be scanned at one time.
In order to keep dishonest employees from making their move or outsiders from entering unsecured areas, many businesses have started using high-tech methods that are now available at very attractive rates. By usingbiometric authentication, businesses can now ensure that they are truly working in a secure environment where all their data and inventory are in safe hands.
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